Handbook of Photosensory Receptors

Animal vision, the flowering of plants, and light-seeking movement of microbes are all examples of light-controlled behavior mediated by photosensory receptors. Upon illumination, these specialized pigment-containing proteins trigger a physiological response. Understanding their molecular function is the basis for the dissection of higher-level processes, such as biological rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle, plant development, and microbial ecological organization. This first comprehensive resource on photosensory receptors from archaea, bacteria, plants and animals compiles the data on all known classes of photoreceptors, creating a must-have reference for students and researchers for many years to come. Each of the molecular mechanisms of light perception is systematically covered, with emphasis given to the primary photoreceptor pigments, their photochemistry and regulation. As such, this is the first resource to compare the different types of photosensory receptors found in different organisms, as well as their role in cellular physiology. From the contents: Microbial Rhodopsins: Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity Sensory Rhodopsin Signaling in Green Flagellate Algae Visual Pigments as Photoreceptors Structural and Functional Aspects of Rhodopsin Conserved Features of Inner Retinal Photoreception in Rodents, Man, and Teleost Fish Phytochrome Signaling Phytochromes in Microorganisms Light-Activated Intracellular Movement of Phytochromes Plant Cryptochromes Animal Cryptochromes Blue-Light Sensing and Signaling by the Phototropins LOV-Domain Photochemistry The Zeitlupe Family of Putative Photoreceptors Photoreceptor Gene Families in Lower Plants Neurospora Photoreceptors Photoactive Yellow Protein, The Xanthopsin Hypericin-Like Photoreceptors Photoactivated Adenylyl Cyclase The editors are two of the world's leading experts in photosensory biology, and have served as presidents of the American Society for Photobiology, American Society of Plant Biologists, and the American Institute of Biological Scientists.Briggs, Winslow R. is the author of 'Handbook of Photosensory Receptors', published 2005 under ISBN 9783527310197 and ISBN 3527310193.